Geranium psilostemon JS Ma Tu Vu

The perennial Geranium psilostemon 'JS Ma Tu Vu' announces its colour without ambiguity; its large shiny flowers, with a fuchsia purple-pink colour and a black eye, do not go unnoticed in the garden or on the terrace. Compact, with impeccable posture, this robust and generous plant forms a dense mound, flowering throughout the summer. Whether used as ground cover or at the front of flower beds, this variety with a promising future prefers the sun but can tolerate any good, not too dry garden soil. 

Geranium psilostemon, also known as Armenian Geranium or formerly Geranium armenum, is a botanical species native to Armenia and the Caucasus. The 'JS Ma Tu Vu' cultivar, recently obtained in the Netherlands, distinguishes itself with a much more compact growth and increased floribundance. Despite its small size, this variety produces flowers of the same size as its ancestor. These perennial plants belong to the geranium family.

This perennial shows a regular, dense and bushy dome-like habit starting from spring. It will reach about 35 cm (14in) in height, depending on the growing conditions, with a minimum diameter of 40 cm (16in). Its growth is rather slow. Flowering starts in June and continues until September, slightly above the foliage. The inflorescence is a compound cyme of round and open flowers, 4-5 cm (2in) wide, satin-like, with a bright fuchsia to magenta colour. Each petal is marked with short, almost black veins, converging towards the center of the flower, which is also almost black. The fruits that follow the flowers are long and slender, they open by projecting the seeds far away. This geranium has dark green foliage, composed of 7-lobed, slightly aromatic, hairy leaves, tinted with purple in spring and red in autumn. It overwinters in the form of underground roots.

Geranium psilostemon 'JS Ma Tu Vu' is a wonderful plant for flower beds and slopes, its flowering radiating under the summer sun. Emblematic of cottage or English gardens, it blends perfectly with other simple perennials such as campanulate peach-leaved bellflowers, columbines, Oriental poppies, or tall daisies. Its somewhat theatrical charm enlivens sunny borders with small catmints and mauve-flowered hyssops. It is also a good companion for ground cover roses like 'The Fairy' or 'Swany', for example. It also grows very well in large pots, with appropriate fertilization and watering.